Missile contactor



July 16, 1963 A. G. BLOMQUIST EIAL 3,

MISSILE CONTACTOR Filed Aug. 8. 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1

Ludo/ph Larsen INVENZORS Arthur G. B/omquasf Pa/merG. Wermager 101M101, A TTORNEYS MISSILE CONTACTOR 3 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Aug. 8. 1961 m mm July 16, 1963 A. e. BLOMQUIST ETAL 3,093,132

MISSILE CONTACTOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 8, 1961 ite States Patented July 116, i963 @hJBZ 3,098,132 MESSILE CONTACTOR Arthur G. Blomquist, Ludolph Larsen, and Palmer G. Wermager, Minneapolis, Minn., assignors, by mesne assignments, to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Filed Aug. 8, 1961, Ser. No. 130,195 8 Claims. ((11. 2053-50) This invention relates generally to electrical connectors, and more particularly it pertains to an umbilical-type electrical connector for missile weapons.

it is desirable to provide external electrical power to missile weapons and to monitor their electrical circuitry as long as possible up to the actual time of their firing. F or this purpose, a rapid acting contactor head is extended into the side of the missile weapon while the latter is mounted in firing position on a launcher. A mechanism of high reliability is required to accurately position the contactor head and to quickly withdraw it when the firing signal is given.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a retrictable electrical contactor for supplying external warmup power to a missile weapon mounted on a launcher guide arm preparator to firing.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electrical contactor having a contactor head for use in firing missile weapons which is hydraulically operated and electrically synchronized so as to be interlocked with a launcher system.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an electrical contactor hydraulic mechanism that opens a door and extends a contactor therethrough whereby the door opens at the beginning of the contactor extend stroke and closes at the end of the retract stroke thereof.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cutaway perspective view of a missile weapon contactor embodying features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a hydraulic schematic diagram of the missile weapon contactor of FIG. 1 in its extend cycle; and

FIG. 3 is a hydraulic schematic diagram similar to FIG. 2 showing the missile weapon contactor in its retract cycle.

Referring now to the details of the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown therein a missile weapon contactor assembly iii. The missile weapon contactor assembly 1-4) is contained in a housing 12 which is secured onto the forward end of a missile launcher guide arm (not shown). A contactor 14 is vertically mounted on a fixed track 49 in this housing 12.

A hinged door 16, which is located on the bottom of the housing 12, opens to allow a contactor head 18 of the contactor 14 to pass therethrough. When the contactor 14 is retracted, the door 16 is caused to close in a manner to be described. Other major components of the missile contactor assembly 10 are an operating piston Zil, a metering valve 22, a door linkage 24, a. contactor linkage 26, and a return spring 76.

The operating piston 29 is connected to actuate both linkages 24 and 26 through a common shaft 28, which rotatably mounts a contactor operating arm 32 and a door operating cam 39. The operating piston works in a cylinder 48 and rides over a grooved fluid rate feed sleeve 59. The cylinder 48 and metering valve 22 are pivotally mounted in the housing 12 by a sleeve 42. The sleeve 42 with an adapter block 44 and an adapter block as on each end thereof provides hydraulic con nections for the operating piston 20 and metering valve 22 as well as furnishing a pivot mount for cylinder 48.

A pair of switches 52 and 54 operated by actuators 56 and 58 attached to the contactor operating arm 32 electrically signal when the contactor 14 is retracted or extended, respectively.

The contactor 14 comprises a contactor housing having telescoping upper and lower halves, 14A and 14B, respectively. The upper half 14A houses a buffer spring 60 and coaxially therewithin a rider spring 62. The lower half 1413 of the contactor housing comprises the contactor head 18, a probe sleeve 64, and a boot spring 66. A corrugated flexible boot 68 surrounds the springs 66 and 64, protecting them from exposure to dust and moisture and yet allowing a degree of compressive movement when the contactor head 18 is caused to bottom within a missile weapon. The boot spring 66 resiliently biases the boot 68 upwardly, maintaining it substantially in its fully extended position. Significant shock loadings may be experienced as the contactor 14 is rammed at high speed into engagement with a missile weapon and it is therefore necessary that some sort of shock-absorbing means be provided to avoid damage and still assure positive engagement. This is accomplished by the telescoping arrangement of the upper and lower halves 14A and 14B of the contactor housing and the coaxially mounted buffer and rider springs 63' and 62, respectively. By this arrangement, as contactor 14 is rammed into missile weapon engagement, the telescoping housing with its associated springs acts to minimize shock loadings. This telescoping arrangement functions in a similar manner upon Withdrawal of the contactor head 18 from the missile weapon in the event that the head 18 is in over-tight engagement with the missile weapon.

Electrical connection is made with the contactor head 18 by means of a flexible cable This cable 70 extends through a ball joint 72 which is urged to normally center by means of a centering spring 74. As the contactor 14 is caused to reciprocate along the vertical track 44 the angle of entry of the cable into the contactor is constantly varied, thereby presenting a chafing problem. This is greatly alleviated by action of the ball joint 72 and centering spring 74 which assures a smooth bending action of cable 70 as contactor 14 travels up and down. A return spring 76 connected to the door operating cam 30 acts to bias the contactor 14 and the door 16 in their retracted positions, as show-n in FIG. 3.

The upper end of the door linkage 24 is attached to a pivoted door operating arm 34. This arm 34 mounts a cam follower 36 which travels in a shaped groove 38 of the cam 31 The action of the groove 38 in providing a simultaneous early opening and a delayed closing of the door 16 with the extend and retract movements respectively of the contactor 14 will be apparent from a comparison of FIGS. 2 and 3.

The door linkage 24 comprises links 24A, 24B, 24C, and 24D. Links 24A and 24B are interconnected to pivot in mutually perpendicular ventical planes whereby they may transmit movements of the door operating arm 34 to link 24C without binding. Link 24C is pivotally mounted on a wall of housing 12 and pivo-tally connected to adjustable link 24D, which latter may be adjusted by means of thumbscrews 24E from time to time to assure complete opening and closing of door 16.

In operation, as a missile weapon is rammed onto a launcher arm preparatory to firing, a launcher system control will direct hydraulic fluid through adapter blocks 44, 46 through the hollow sleeve 42 to metering valve 22 which meters the fluid to actuate piston 20 downwardly, rotating contactor operating arm 32, door operating cam 30, and their common shaft 28 in a clockwise direction,

32 as viewed in FIG. 1, causing contactor linkage 26 to urge the contactor downwardly. As the door operating cam 30 is rotated, the associated groove 38 is so shaped as to cause an immediate and complete actuation of door operating arm 34 and its associated door linkage 24, followed by continued rotation of door operating cam 34 and contactor operating arm 32 unattended by any further movement of members 24 and 34. This provision for lost motion between cam 30 and arm 34 is necessary to secure a full and early opening of door 16. Similarly, on retraction of the contactor 14, said contactor is intended to be in its fully Withdrawn position before arm 34 and linkage 24 are actuated by cam 30' to close door 16. This lost motion sequence of door opening, contactor engagement, contactor withdrawal, and door closing is effected by the substantially L-shaped groove 38 formed in the cam member 30. Return spring 76 always acts to bias the contactor 14 withdrawn and the door 16 closed.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

l. A missile contactor for use in Warming up missile weapons just preparatory to firing, comprising a housing,

an electrically wired contactor within said housing,

a vertical track along which said contactor may be caused to reciprocate, a door movable between opened and closed positions a piston, and

an actuating linkage actuated by said piston and interconnecting said door and said contactor to simultaneously open the door as the contactor is extended into missile engagement and close the door upon full withdrawal of said contactor,

said actuating linkage comprising a contactor operating arm,

a door operating cam,

a shaft rotatably mounted within said housing, said contactor operating arm and said cam being keyed to said shaft to rotate therewith,

a door operating arm pivotally mounted within said housing,

said cam having a groove formed therein,

a cam follower protruding from said door operating arm for movement within said groove,

mechanical linkage interconnecting said door operating arm and said door whereby said door may be actuated between open and closed positions upon rotation of said operating arm.

2. A missile contactor as described in claim 1 wherein said mechanical linkage interconnecting said door operating arm in said door comprises at least two pivotally mounted links for movement in mutually perpendicular planes.

3. A missile contactor as set forth in claim 1 wherein the surfaces forming said groove are so configured as to restrain movement of said cam follower only during initial rotation of said door operating cam when the contactor is actuated downwardly into a missile the surfaces of said groove are so shaped as to actuate the ca m follower and its associated door operating arm only during the latter portion of travel of the door operating cam whereby said contactor is substantially fully withdrawn prior to actuation of said door to its closed position.

5. A missile contactor for use in Warming up missile Weapons preparatory to firing comprising a housing,

said housing having telescopically engaged upper and lower portions,

spring means housed within said housing functioning to resiliently bias said telescoping portions into their extended position whereby shock loadings encountered by said contactor on being rammed into missile engagement are minimized,

an electrical contactor within said housing,

a vertically disposed track along which said contactor may be caused to reciprocate,

a door movable betwen eopen and closed positions,

a piston, and

an actuating linkage actuated by said piston and interconnecting said door and contactor to simultaneously open the door as the contactor is extended into a missile engaging position, and to close the door upon Withdrawal of said contactor.

6. A missile contactor as set forth in claim 5 further comprising a door operating arm pivotally mounted with respect to the first named housing,

means interconnecting said arm to said door,

said linkage comprising at least two links so disposed as to pivot in mutually perpendicular planes whereby a given point on said door may pivot in a plane mutually perpendicular to the plane in which said arm.- pivots.

7. A missile contactor as set forth in claim 6 wherein said groove is substantially L-shaped.

8. A missile contactor for use in Warming up missile weapons preparatory to firing comprising a housing,

an electrical contactor Within said housing having an electrical cable within said contactor one end of which is secured within one end of said contactor and the other end of which extends toward the other end of said contactor through a lateral opening in the contactor,

a ball and socket joint within said contactor having a hole through which said cable extends,

a centering spring within said contactor and in operative relationship to said ball of the joint to urge said ball toward its normally centered position in the socket whereby said cable is caused to move smoothly with minimal chafing action in the lateral opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,833,173 Murray V Nov. 24, 1931 

5. A MISSILE CONTACTOR FOR USE IN WARMING UP MISSILE WEAPONS PREPARATORY TO FIRING COMPRISING A HOUSING, SAID HOUSING HAVING TELESCOPICALLY ENGAGED UPPER AND LOWER PORTIONS, SPRING MEANS HOUSED WITHIN SAID HOUSING FUNCTIONING TO RESILIENTLY BIAS SAID TELESCOPING PORTIONS INTO THEIR EXTENDED POSITION WHEREBY SHOCK LOADINGS ENCOUNTERED BY SAID CONTACTOR ON BEING RAMMED INTO MISSILE ENGAGEMENT ARE MINIMIZED, AN ELECTRICAL CONTACTOR WITHIN SAID HOUSING, A VERTICALLY DISPOSED TRACK ALONG WHICH SAID CONTRACTOR MAY BE CAUSED TO RECIPROCATE, A DOOR MOVABLE BETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS, A PISTON, AND AN ACTUATING LINKAGE ACTUATED BY SAID PISTON AND INTERCONNECTING SAID DOOR AND CONTRACTOR TO SIMULTANEOUSLY OPEN THE DOOR AS THE CONTACTOR IS ENTENDED INTO A MISSILE ENGAGING POSITION, AND TO CLOSE THE DOOR UPON WITHDRAWAL OF SAID CONTACTOR. 